Improvement in sleeping-cars



J. BOLT.

SLEEPING-CAR. No. 170,985, Patented Dec. 14, 1875.

itnesses MPETERS, FHOTO-UTNDGRAPHER, WASHINGTON D C.

PATENT Orrron.

UNITED STATES JOSEPH BOLT, OF BENICIA, CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN SLEEPING-CARS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 170.985, dated December14, 1875; application filed October 4, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J osEPHBoLT, of Benicia, Solano county, State ofCalifornia, have invented an Improved Railway-Carriage; and I do herebydeclare the following description and accompanying drawings aresufficient to enable any person skilled in the art or science to whichit most nearly appertains to make and use my said invention orimprovement without further invention or experiment.

My invention relates to certain improve ments in the construction ofrailway-coaches of that class which are intended to be used for day andnight travel, and in which provision must be made for sleeping at nightas well as for seats by day.

Referring to the accompanying drawing for a more complete explanation ofmy invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a section of mycarriage. Figs. 2 and 3 are enlarged detailed views of the seats.

A is a section of a car, containing two seats, B and G, which willaccommodate four persons in a sitting position, such as would ordinarilybe taken during the day.

In order to accommodate these persons in a recumbent position at night,it will be necessary to convert the seats into a continuous surface orbed for two, while the space above them will be occupied by anothermattress or bed for two more persons.

I am aware that this is the general method adoptedrupon sleeping-cars,and shall therefore confine myself to my especial devices foraccomplishing these results.

The seat-frames D are made of wood or metal, in any ornamental design,and are grooved,so that the seats B and G will slide a short distanceforward or back, as may be desired. To the edges of each seat which arenearest the ends of the sections are hinged the extension-pieces E.These pieces may fold beneath the seat during the day; but they areallowed to rest upon a supporting ledge, F, at the ends of the sections,and thus form a continuation of the seat, to serve as a part of the bed.The backs G of the seats are provided with arms H H, which are pivoted,near the top and bottom of. the back-piece, at the ends; and these armsmeet upon a pivot-pin at the center of the side arms of the seat, so

that the seats may be reversed in the usual manner. In order to make thebacks available to form a portion of the bed-bottom, when desired, oneof the arms, H, is made in two pieces, each having a clasp, i, whichholds it to the other, so that they may slide past one another, and forma double arm of the same length as the arm H. A spring-catch holds thearm in this position when the backs are to be retained in an uprightposition; but by releasing this catch the arms H will draw out to aboutdouble the length of the arms H, and as the seat B is drawn forward, andthe extension E rests upon its supportingledge, the back G will lie downand fill the space between the two seats, thus making a completebed-bottom, upon which bedding will be placed. The seats may bereversed, so as to have the head at either end, as may be desired. Theupper mattress J is made in one piece, and is suspended from arms K,which are pivoted to the ends of the section or to hangers L, so thatduring the day this bed may be retained close to the top of the car and.out of the way; but when needed the spring-catch 1' may be released, andthe bed lowered to its place.

By means of the arms or links K, it will be seen that the bed, whenlowered, will make a curveoutward around the point of attachment of thelinks, and thus it will be thrown out so far as to entirely clear thehooks or brackets, which are usually placed on the sides of cars to holdvarious articles.

My improvements are equally well adapted for use in finely-finishedcars, or for those which are more cheaply made. a

When the cars are to be employed for the transportation of troops itwill be necessary to have some means of carrying the guns securely, andfor this purpose I employ racks m n, which are secured to the wall ofthe car. The rack m is stationary, and is fitted to receive the butts ofthe guns of the four occupants of the seats below, while the rack 42receives the muzzles of the guns. As the guns may vary in length thesupport n is made adjustable longitudinally, moving upon a toothedslide, 0, and it is held at any point by means of a spring-catch.

By this co nstructlon, and the peculiar method of suspending the uppermattress, I am enform a continuous bed-bottom, substantially abled toemploy all the conveniences of racks as and for the purpose described.

without any interference with the raising. and 2. The attachments,consisting of the sta- 4 lowering themattress. tionary rack m and theadjustable rack n, for 1 Having thus described my invention, what thepurpose of supporting guns, substantially I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patas described.

ent, is- JOSEPH BOLT. [L. s.] g

1. The sliding seats B and O with their ex- Witnesses:

tensions E, in combination with the backs G, GEO. H. STRONG,

so supported as to lie between the seats and. JNo. L. BooNE.

